Victor “Red” Atkins

Victor “Red” Atkins’ style of piano has been described as “infectious, unconventional, tasteful, and powerful” all at the same time. Hailing from Selma, Alabama, he began playing with Delfeayo Marsalis in 1989 and was an integral part of the seminal work “Pontius Pilate’s Decision.” After receiving a B.A. from Berklee College of Music in Boston and an M.F.A. from the Manhattan School of Music, Victor has toured and performed with an impressive list of artists including Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Aaron Neville, Nnenna Freelon, Brian Blade, Lalah Hathaway, and Nicholas Payton. One of his most recent projects was collaboration and performing with NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis on his re-working of Duke Ellington’s “Such Sweet Thunder,” a tribute to William Shakespeare. He also performs with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and is a sought-after arranger. He is also well-known for his work with the Grammy-winning, New Orleans-based Los Hombres Calientes, which produced an innovative brand of Latin jazz that can be heard on their Volumes 1-5. In every musical situation, Victor executes improvisational passages with great dexterity, combined with superior creative artistry. His adaptations of works by Bach and other classical composers are brilliant examples of the fluidity of jazz and the breaking down of musical barriers. He is actively involved in the musical direction of his church, and spends as much time as possible with his wife and three young children, including twins. To hear Atkins playing with Delfayo Marsalis, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5tshpM9c7s